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Tamil Tigers' call for truce last line of defence, say Sri Lankan officials

Sydney Morning Herald - February 25, 2009

Matt Wade, South Asia Correspondent – The Sri Lankan Government has derided a Tamil Tigers' call for a truce in the country's 25-year civil war. Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary, Palitha Kohona, told the Herald the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have called for cease fires "time and time again" when under pressure.

"The Tamil Tigers have just used this breathing space in the past to re-arm, regroup and attack again," he said. "There seems to be some belief that they will get divine salvation if they get extra time but they now have no choice but to lay down their weapons."

Sri Lanka's Defence Affairs spokesman, Keheliya Rambukwella, said it was "hilarious" the rebels should plead for a ceasefire when they were on the brink of military defeat.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority population but have recently been driven back to a strip of land about 100 square kms in the country's north east.

"Their delusion for Eelam [a Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka] is in tatters," said Mr Kohona.

On Monday Tamil Tigers' political chief Balasingham Nadesan wrote a letter the United Nations as well as Britain, Japan, Norway and the United States saying: "We are ready to discuss, cooperate, and work together in all their efforts to bring an immediate ceasefire and work towards a political settlement."

The Government insists the rebels must surrender unconditionally. Many in the international community – including Sri Lanka's influential neighbour India – have urged the rebels to lay down their arms.

But Mr Nadesan's letter ruled this out. "The world should take note that calls for the LTTE to lay down its arms and surrender is not helpful for resolving the conflict," he wrote.

On February 5th the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the Sri Lankan Army would decisively defeat the LTTE in "a few days."

But a kamikaze-style air-raid on Colombo by Tamil Tiger aircraft on Friday challenged Government claims defeat of the rebels was imminent.

Meanwhile, international pressure is mounting on the government to end the bloodshed and come up with a political solution to end the conflict.

More than 70,000 people have died during the civil war and aid agencies are concerned the toll could rise much further because tens of thousands of civilians are trapped in the combat zone.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that the UN deplored the rising civilian casualty toll in Sri Lanka, and that the two sides must resume peace talks.

India, last week renewed its demand for "a negotiated political settlement" in Sri Lanka. The Indian government also said it was ready to evacuate civilians trapped by fighting. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has also called for a political resolution in Sri Lanka.

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